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Thailand suspends Cambodia border deal after landmine incident
Thailand announced on Monday it is suspending a recently signed border agreement with Cambodia, citing ongoing security threats after a landmine explosion injured Thai soldiers near the disputed frontier in Sisaket province.
Incident triggers suspension
The decision follows an explosion that wounded Thai troops during a patrol, with one soldier losing a foot, according to the Bangkok Post. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul supported the military's call to halt implementation, stating that "the security threat has not actually decreased."
Anutin added he would visit the injured soldiers on Tuesday, underscoring the government's concern over the incident.
Cambodia remains committed to agreement
Cambodia, however, affirmed its commitment to the deal, which was brokered in October under U.S. oversight during a ceremony in Malaysia attended by then-President Donald Trump. The agreement aimed to end deadly clashes in July that left over 40 dead and displaced 300,000 people.
Thailand has avoided labeling the document a "peace deal," referring to it instead as the Joint Declaration by the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on the Outcomes of Their Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Key provisions of the suspended deal
The agreement required both nations to withdraw heavy weapons from the contested border area and establish an interim observer team to monitor compliance. A subsequent step was to include the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers detained in Thailand.
Historical roots of the conflict
The border dispute traces back over a century to colonial-era demarcations during France's occupation of Cambodia. Sporadic clashes have erupted periodically, with the most recent violence prompting a swift ceasefire and the October agreement.
